No motorway driving, a zero blood-alcohol limit and journeys capped at 100 kilometres from home for drivers over the age of 85. These are among the proposals contained in the draft reform of the Highway Code (Codice della strada) drawn up by Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
The text, which has not yet been finalised, has been submitted for consultation to industry operators and associations, who have been asked to submit their observations by 13 September. Among the most significant chapters is the one dedicated to elderly drivers: for those over 85, specific restrictions are being considered, with the possibility of exemptions following an assessment by the Medical Commission.
There are also changes on the horizon for younger drivers. The draft opens up the possibility of obtaining a category B or C licence at 17, with minors allowed to drive only when accompanied by an adult. For the category B licence, the mandatory hours of driving school instruction would also rise from six to eight, while private practice sessions with a learner’s permit could only begin after completing the certified lessons.
On the penalties front, the proposal introduces progressive fines for speeding, scaled according to how many kilometres per hour the limit is exceeded, and a reduction in notification times from 90 to 30 days for infractions detected remotely. However, the proposal to require certified email (PEC) for certain licence- and vehicle-inspection-related procedures is not expected to make it into the final text.
Other proposals include parallel-lane driving on roads with at least three lanes, which would allow drivers, under certain conditions, to move forward on the right without changing lanes, and permission for motorcycles to use the emergency lane at low speed during heavy traffic slowdowns, while still keeping the way clear for emergency vehicles.
The draft also provides for the immediate impoundment of uninsured vehicles and new requirements — including helmets and identification tags — for certain high-performance electric bicycles. The text must now go through the required legislative process before it can become law.
